Fetuses are only potential humans

Published: Thursday, January 6, 2005 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 6, 2005 at 12:00 a.m.

To The Editor: A lot of people would like to believe Cal Thomas when he writes that what is being killed in an abortion "is a human being." But the truth is that a fetus is only a potential human being.

After a pregnancy begins, it takes approximately nine months to complete the procreation of a human being. Perhaps we should describe a fetus as a humanoid, "like a human." That would be more accurate.

Even the "not speaking" infant is not a full human being capable of making reasoned choices for another 10 or more years. What distinguishes the fully developed human being is the "sapiens" in our biological title, our ability to think and make decisions.

In our politicized world a male voice carries more than one "vote" in life and death decisions. A woman finds that her "NO!" does not weigh against some predatory male's "yes, now!"

So the woman may be forced to spend nine months and years afterwards completing what it took the man only a few minutes to initiate.

None of us want abortions, but laws must provide for the correcting of contraceptive failure, incest or rape.

<p>To The Editor: A lot of people would like to believe Cal Thomas when he writes that what is being killed in an abortion "is a human being." But the truth is that a fetus is only a potential human being.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>After a pregnancy begins, it takes approximately nine months to complete the procreation of a human being. Perhaps we should describe a fetus as a humanoid, "like a human." That would be more accurate.</p><p>Even the "not speaking" infant is not a full human being capable of making reasoned choices for another 10 or more years. What distinguishes the fully developed human being is the "sapiens" in our biological title, our ability to think and make decisions.</p><p>In our politicized world a male voice carries more than one "vote" in life and death decisions. A woman finds that her "NO!" does not weigh against some predatory male's "yes, now!"</p><p>So the woman may be forced to spend nine months and years afterwards completing what it took the man only a few minutes to initiate.</p><p>None of us want abortions, but laws must provide for the correcting of contraceptive failure, incest or rape.</p><p>James H. Gailey</p><p>Brevard</p>